On August 3-5, members of the Girls Inc. Teen Advocacy Council (TAC) came together to participate in our virtual “fly-in” where they focused on building a sisterhood, strengthened their advocacy and leadership skills, and met with different Congressional staffers and Congresspeople to voice their opinions and advocate for different issues like racial justice, menstrual equity, and gun violence prevention. This year’s cohort represented nine U.S. states, one Canadian province, and 12 Girls Inc. affiliates.

The fly-in took place over three days where the girls prepared for their virtual Hill day, learned about college and the college process from Girls Inc. alumnae, and participated in lobbying and leadership trainings. One of the highlights of the fly-in was meeting with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, who shared her story of how she came into her position of power and reminded the girls to continue doing their important work because, “Ultimately, things change because of the courage of everyday people.” Congresswoman Pressley’s inspiring words encouraged the girls to continue to be advocates in their everyday lives and use their voices to make a difference in their communities and the world. 

Towards the future…

Reflecting on the experience, one TAC member, Pinky from Girls Inc. of San Antonio shared, “I felt really proud. This is really what I want to do with my life. I want to feel this everyday. I want to feel like I am doing something right and something just. I am working towards my future. I am doing things now that are showing me what I want to do when I’m older.”